BRUTUS, N.Y. -- Authorities shut down a bridge spanning the Seneca River Wednesday after an inspection uncovered a crack in one of the bridge's support beams.

The New York State Department of Transportation said that the bridge carrying Route 34 over the Seneca River in the town of Brutus was closed Wednesday morning as a precautionary measure.

Cayuga County 911 said it was informed at about 11:40 a.m. that the bridge was being closed because of a "critical crack" that had been found.

During a routine inspection, DOT officials found a crack in one of the support beams on the bridge. The bridge was immediately closed to traffic. The bridge will remain closed while workers continue to evaluate the structure, the DOT said. It wasn't clear how long the bridge might be closed.

The bridge is located about three quarters of a mile north of New York State Thruway Exit 40. Traffic is being detoured around the bridge via Route 31, Route 38 and Route 370.

The bridge carrying Route 34 over the Seneca River was built in 1964. According to the DOT, the bridge was last inspected in July 2012.